Fuel-feeding device



Nov. I5; 1927.

V. A. SEARLES FUEL FEEDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 28. 1923 Patented Nov. l5, 1927.

UNITED STATES alain PATENT orrma VOLNEY A. SEARLES, OF JACKSON, MICHGAN, ASSIGNOR TO STEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLTNOIS, A, CORPORATTON F VIR- GINIA.

FUEL-FEEDING DEVICE.

Application filed September 28, 1923.

This invention relates to certain improvements in Jfuel feeding devices for use particularly in supplyingliquid fuel to internal combustion engines of automobiles and the like, in connection with which it is very often desirable to have the primary fuel tank carried on the vehicle at a level below the carburetor.

The object of the invention is to provide a i0 device of relatively simple construction and high eliiciency in automatic operation, with particular' relation to the construction of the vacuum tank portion thereof to which the liquid fuel is elevated as by the suction of the engine, and intermittently discharged therefrom to be fed by gravity to a vapor` izing device, as for instance, the float chamber of a commercial carburetor.

rlhe invention here claimed relates particularly to the method of operating and controlling the valves which open and close the ports of the vacuum chamber, and specifically not only to a mechanism by which all of the valves are positively and simultaneously actuated, but also to a peculiar construction of valve mechanism which controls communication between the vacuum chamber and the auxiliary chamber.

Other objects and advantages relate to the a@ details of construction and operation, all as will more fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical cross section through au the upper portion of the vacuum tank structure.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2, Figure l.

The device shown is of the usual double 'tank construction, consisting of an upper tank S5- within which vacuum and atmospheric pressure alternate, and a lower tank -4- maintained at all timesunder atmospheric pressure and affording a free continuous gravity discharge of fuel to the carburetor of the engine.

The tanks may be formed of av substan tially cylindrical cup-shape sheet metal structure -l having a partition wall -2- dividing the said l.structure into the two 5@ chambers -3- and -a-f respectively. The upper chamber 3 is connected'by means of pipe 5-- with a source of liquid fuel supply as the ordinary low level tank upon an automobile. This tank +3- is further Serial No. 665,490.

connected to a source of suction, as the manifold of the engine, by means of conduit -6- controlled by a downwardly opening valve MTM. An atmospheric inlet or vent 8* is provided for the chamber -3-, such ventI being controlled by an upwardly opening valve-Q which may be positioned within the nipple -1- provided with a loose cap nl1-- permitting free communication with the atmosphere. Pipe -12 is provided for connecting the lower chamber 4M with the nipple -10- so as to afford at all times atmospheric communication for the said chamber -l-. The valves *7- and -9 may both be mounted upon and actuated by a single lever -l3- pivoted at -lflupon the lug -lm extending downwardly from plate -16- secured to the top 17M of the upper chamber -3-. The valve -7- may, as shown, have a substantially tight pivotal connection with the lever *13- while the stem of the valve -9 is slidable through the said lever --18 and has a loose connection therewith permitting a limited relative movement of the valve stem and the lever in a manner well known. For the purpose of actuating the lever -13- to move the valves -7-4 and -9- to respective open and closed position, a float -35- is provided, mounted upon float stem -36- which has its upper end connected to a link -37- pivoted at .-lkupon the lug l5- The mechanism is of such character that the valves 7- and -9- are moved suddenly either to their open or their closed position and for this purpose spring -18- is provided which may be connected in any suitable manner to the link -37- and the lever 13- so that as the link moves to opposite sides of its aligning position with the lever -l3 the spring 18m will snap the lever --l3-.

either up or down, dependent upon the position of the link 18- and thereby reversely actuate the valves -7- and -9-.

As shown, the spring -.-18- is connected to the pivot of the link H37- with the float stem -36- and the pivot pin which connects In dotted lines the lower position of the float and spring and link and lever is shown while in full the upper position of those elements is illustrated. Asthe float rises and falls in accordance with the level of liquid within the tank -3-, the valves -7- and -9- are operated in a predetermined desired m3111181'.

The partition --2-- is provided with an opening adapted to receive the lower threaded portion -19- of a nipple -20- having an upper substantially cylindrical portion within the chamber `-3-, and formed with a perforated front Wall -2l-, which may be formed as an integral part of the nipple, or may be separate therefrom and secured thereto in any suitable manner, so' as to form at its rear a groove, or seat, of circular form', for the reception of a rotary disk valve -22- having openings adapted to be brought into registration with and moved out of registration with the -openings in the front Wall -21-- These openings may be of any suitable corresponding number and of any desired shape, and as shown, are of somewhat sector shape and form, and are four in number. The valve -22- maybe provided with a projecting stud -23- Which extends through the front Wall -2land is ormedat its outer forward portion with a disk -24-- Between the front wall 21 and the disk 24eis mounted a link -25- in such a manner that the link freely rotates about the stud -23. The other end of the link -25 is pivotally connected to the float stem -36`-. It Will be obvious that as the float stem moves up and down it will rotate the link -25- about the said'stud Q3-J For the purpose of effecting sudden movement of the disk valve 22- to and from a. position closing the openings through the front wall -2l- I have provided a spring -26- having one end connected to an eccentric point upon the disk Q4- andy its opposite end connected to the pivotal axis of the link k-25- and the float stem -36--- As the float stem -36- moves the Jlink w25- and carries the spring to opposite sides of the stud -23, the spring will act to cause rotary movement of the disk 2awith respect to link -25--, thereby moving the disk valve -22- to and from a position closing the openings through the front Wall -21-. As the disk valve is positioned at the rear of the front Wall -21-- the suction or vacuum produced in chamber -3- will hold such valve in close contact with said front Wall so as to form a substantially airtight construction.

It Will be obvious from the above description that the movement of float -35- positively actuates the air valve -91-`, thesuction valve -7- and the discharge valve 22- so that all of said valves are suddenly and substantially simultaneously moved to the desired position, either to permit the elevation of fuel to chamber -3- by the creation ot' vacuumY therein'or to permit the free discharge of the liquid fuel therefrom through nipple -19- when atmospheric pressure has been produced in chamber -3-. As above stated, the rotary disk valve -22#d may be provided with any suitable number of openings in any desired form to correspond with the openings provided in the plate -21- so that at one position the openings in the disk valve or shutter Q2- are in registration with openings in plate 2l- While in another position said openings are out of registration to form a substantial air-tight barrier between chambers -3- and -l-.

Although I have shown and described a specific construction as illustrative of a perhaps preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to limit myself to the same, as various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction, form and operation ot the device without departing from the invention as set forthV in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, a tank comprising an upperA chamber and a lower chamber, means of communication bet' tween said chambers, and a rotary disk valve controlling such communication.

2. In a device of the class described, a tank comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, means of communication bctvveen said chambers, a rotary disk valve controlling said communication and Hoet-actuated means for snapping said valve .to open and closed position.

3. In a device of the class described, a tank comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, an air exhaust connection and an air inlet to the upper chamber, means of communication between said chambers, a rotary valve controlling such communication, and float-actuated means for snapping said valve to open and closed position.

4. In a device of the classv described, cornprising an upper chamber and lower chamber, means of communication between said chambers, comprising a port, and a'valve mounted for sliding movement over said port in a direction transverse to the How of liquid therethrough. l f

5. In a device of the class described, a tank comprising an up er chamber and a lower chamber, a port a Ording communication between said chambers with a valve seat for said port, a valve slidably movable over said seat for closing the port or opening it, and a float having a range of vertical travel in the upper chamber connected to said valve and adapted for opening and closing the port thereby in the upper and lower portions of its range respectively.

6. In a device of the class described, a tank comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a. port affording communicafor said port, a valve slidably movable over said seat for closing the port or opening it, and a float having a range of vertical travel in the upper chamber and a yielding connection between the iioat and thevalve adapted for opening and closing the valve in the upper and lower portions of the range of float movement respectively.

7. ln a device of the class described, a tank comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a port aording communication between said chambers with a valve seat for said port, and av at valve member pivoted to swing over said seat for opening or closing the port, together with a oat having a range ci' vertical movement in the upper chamber provided with a stem extending adjacent the valve, means for guiding said stem in its vertical movement, and a spring connecting a point on said stem with a point on the valve, said spring extending past the valve pivot and its point of connection to the float stem standing above the level of said pivot at the upper limit of float movement and below said level when the float reaches its lower limit.

8. ln a device of the class described, a

tank comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a port affording communication between said chambers with a valve seat for said port, and a flat valve member pivoted to swing over said seat for opening or closing the port, together with a float having a range of vertical movement in the upper chamber provided with a stem extending adjacent the valve, a guide link for said stem pivoted coaXially with the valve and yielding means movable with said link and engaging the valve arranged to be stressed at the upper and lower limits oflioat movement for snapping the valve to open and closed positions respectively.

9. In the combination defined in claim 6, the yielding means comprising a tension spring extending from the point of connection of thelink with the iioat stem to a point on the valve beyond its pivot, said spring being adapted to be carried past the pivot axis of the valve in the swing of the link from its upper to its lower limit. Y

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand at Jackson, Michigan, this 19th day of September, 1923.

V. A. SEARLES. 

